Kelly Flabel's Blog Posts

Homes Across the Country Are Selling Fast [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights In today’s whirlwind real estate market, houses are selling at astonishing speed – from sea to shining sea. Four

6 Reasons to Celebrate National Homeownership MonthOur homes are so much more than the houses we live in. For many, they’ve also become our workplaces, schools for our children, and safe harbors

What’s Motivating People To Move Right Now?This year, Americans are moving for a variety of reasons. The health crisis has truly reshaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending so much more time

Dreaming of a Bigger Home? Why Not Buy It This Year?Are you clamoring for extra rooms or a more functional floorplan in your house? Maybe it’s time to make a move. If you’ll be able to work

Top Reasons To Own Your Home [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights June is National Homeownership Month, and it’s a great time to consider the benefits of owning your own home. If you’re

There’s No Reason To Panic Over Today’s Lending StandardsToday, some are afraid the real estate market is starting to look a lot like it did in 2006, just prior to the housing crash. One of the

Buyer Competition Is Good News for Sellers [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights With so many buyers looking for homes to purchase and so few houses available today, there’s a substantial increase in

Your Tax Refund and Stimulus Savings May Help You Achieve Homeownership This YearIf you’re planning to buy a home this year, saving for a down payment is one of the most important steps in the

Don’t Sell on Your Own Just Because It’s a Sellers’ MarketIn a sellers’ market, some homeowners might be tempted to try to sell their house on their own (known as For

Should We Fear the Surge in Cash-Out Refinances?Freddie Mac recently released their Quarterly Refinance Statistics report which covers refinances through 2020. The report explains

Why You Should Think About Listing Prices Like an Auction’s Reserve PriceFor generations, the homebuying process never really changed. The seller would try to estimate the market value of the home

Buyer & Seller Perks in Today’s Housing MarketRight now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your

2021 Real Estate Myth Buster [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights There are a lot of misconceptions about buying or selling a home today, making it challenging to know exactly how to navigate the current

What It Means To Be in a Sellers’ MarketIf you’ve given even a casual thought to selling your house in the near future, this is the time to really think seriously about making a move.

What Is the #1 Financial Benefit of Homeownership?There are many financial and non-financial benefits of homeownership, and the greatest financial one is wealth creation. Homeownership has

How to Make a Winning Offer on a HomeToday’s homebuyers are faced with a strong sellers’ market, which means there are a lot of active buyers competing for a relatively low number

What Is the Strongest Tailwind to Today’s Recovering Economy?Last year started off with a bang. Unemployment was under 4%, forecasters were giddy with their projections for the economy, and

To Renovate or Not To Renovate Before You SellWhen thinking about selling, homeowners often feel they need to get their house ready with some remodeling to make it more appealing to buyers. However,

What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?According to data from the most recent Origination Insight Report by Ellie Mae, the average FICO® score on closed loans reached

Americans See Major Home Equity Gains [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights Today’s home price appreciation is driving equity higher throughout the country. If your needs are changing and

4 Reasons People Are Buying Homes in 2021According to many experts, the real estate market is expected to continue growing in 2021, and it’s largely driven by the lasting impact the pandemic

What Does 2021 Have in Store for Home Values?According to the latest CoreLogic Home Price Insights Report, nationwide home values increased by 8.2% over the last twelve months.

Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights Choosing the right real estate professional to work with is one of the most important decisions you can make in your

Will Forbearance Plans Lead to a Tsunami of Foreclosures?At the onset of the economic disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, the government quickly put into place forbearance plans to allow

Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your HouseThe housing market made an incredible recovery in 2020 and is now positioned for an even stronger year in 2021. Record-low mortgage interest&

Things to Avoid after Applying for a Mortgage [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights There are a few key things to make sure you avoid after applying for a mortgage to help make sure you still

More Generations Are Living Under One Roof This YearThis year challenged us to reprioritize everything - from the way we use our time to where we work, how we socialize and gather together, and our

Why Selling Your House on Your Own in 2021 Is a MistakeThere are many benefits to working with a real estate professional when selling your house. During challenging times, like what we face today,

Four Expert Views on the 2021 Housing MarketThe housing market was a shining star in 2020, fueling the economic turnaround throughout the country. As we look forward to 2021, can we expect real

3 Must-Do’s When Selling Your House This YearIt’s exciting to put a house on the market and to think about making new memories in new spaces. However, despite the anticipation of what’s to,

Here’s to a Wonderful!

Are Home Prices Headed Toward Bubble Territory?Talk of a housing bubble is beginning to crop up as home prices have appreciated at a rapid pace this year. This is understandable since the

An Honest Look at Unemployment NumbersLast Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the November Jobs Report. It revealed that, though headed in the right direction, the�

Why It Makes Sense to Sell Your House This Holiday SeasonIf you’re one of the many homeowners thinking about taking your house off the market for the holidays, hang on. You definitely don’t want

Winning as a Buyer in a Sellers’ Market [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights Buying a home in today’s sellers’ market doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. Here are four ways to make

5 Steps to Follow When Applying for ForbearanceIf you’re currently feeling the stress of affording your mortgage payment, or if you know someone who is, there’s still time to get help. For

Knowledge Is Power on the Path to HomeownershipHomeownership is on the goal list for many young adults, but sometimes it’s hard to know exactly how to get there. From understanding the homebuying

With Home Values Surging, Is it Still Affordable to Buy Right Now?Housing inventory is at an all-time low. Realtor.com just reported that there are 39% fewer homes for sale

A New Way to Shop for Homes in a Virtual World In a year when we’re learning to do so much remotely, homebuying is no exception. From going to work to attending school, grocery shopping, and even

How Remote Work Can Power Your Vacation Home SaleThis year, the opportunity to work remotely has increased the demand for vacation homes. Gay Cororaton, Senior Economist and Director of Housing

The Path to Homeownership [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights If you’re thinking of buying a home and not sure where to start, you’re not alone. Here’s a map with 10 simple steps to follow in

Is Buying a Home Today a Good Financial Move?There’s no doubt 2020 has been a challenging year. A global pandemic coupled with an economic recession has caused heartache for many. However, it has

Your House May Be High on the Buyer Wish List This Holiday SeasonAround this time each year, many homeowners decide to wait until after the holidays to sell their houses. Similarly, others who

Key Terms to Know in the Homebuying Process [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights Buying a home can be intimidating if you’re not familiar with the terms used throughout the process. To point you in

5 Tips for Homebuyers Who Want to Make a Competitive OfferToday’s real estate market has high buyer interest and low housing inventory. With so many buyers competing for a limited

Homes for Sale Are Rapidly DisappearingThrough all the challenges of 2020, the real estate market has done very well, and purchasers are continuing to take advantage of historically low mortgage

Will Mortgage Rates Remain Low Next Year?In 2020, buyers got a big boost in the housing market as mortgage rates dropped throughout the year. According to Freddie Mac, rates hit all-time lows

Chances of Another Foreclosure Crisis? “About Zero Percent.”There seems to be some concern that the 2020 economic downturn will lead to another foreclosure crisis like the one we experienced

It Pays to Sell with a Real Estate Agent [INFOGRAPHIC]Some HighlightsToday, it’s more important than ever to have an expert you trust to guide you as you sell your house.From your safety

Don’t Let Buyer Competition Keep You from Purchasing a HomeThis year’s record-low mortgage rates sparked high demand among homebuyers. Current homeowners, however, haven’t put their houses on

  Why Working from Home May Spark Your Next Move If you’ve been working from home this year, chances are you’ve been at it a little longer than you initially expected.

Tips to Sell Your House Safely Right Now [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights Your agent now has over 6 months of experience selling houses during the pandemic and can make the

Winter Will Bring a Flurry of Activity to the Housing MarketIn the second half of this year, the housing market surged with activity. Today, real estate experts are looking ahead to the

VA Home Loans: Helping Heroes Find a Home Today, on Veterans Day, we honor those who have served our country and thank them for their continued dedication to our nation. In the United

Homeownership Is a Key to Building Wealth For years, real estate has been considered the best investment you can make. A major reason for this is due to the net worth a